® Bonita Springs Cape Coral Fort Myers Lehigh Acres

www.literacygulfcoast.com

Annual Report 2012-2013

1

Our Mission:

To assist adults and children to acquire the literacy skills

necessary to improve their quality of life

Our Beliefs:

We believe in the power of literacy to improve the lives of

our students, their families, communities and society.

We believe in providing our students with the highest quality

of literacy education and related services where respect,

integrity, inquiry, creativity and diversity contribute to

individual achievement and the transformation of lives and

communities.

We believe in the power of tutors and our partners to make

a difference in the lives of our students, helping them to reach

their full potential.

History/Facts

Literacy Council was formed in 1989.

Literacy educational services include English language,

conversation, reading, writing, pronunciation, computer

classes, GED readiness study and U.S. Citizenship classes; the

Carol DeJoy Moms and Tots Family Literacy Program and

worksite literacy.

The Literacy Council employs three full-time employees and

12 part-time employees. The average cost to teach a student

English is less than $200 per year.

The current operating budget is approximately $500,000.

Tutors and volunteers contribute time that is valued at excess

of $1 million. Around a third of our funding comes from

United Way, one third from individual donations and a final

third from grants. The Literacy Council receives no

government funding.

The Board of Directors currently includes 14 members.

Our organization includes the Board and four standing

committees: executive (officers), finance, marketing, program,

and technology – with a combination of board, staff,

volunteers and operating staff and tutors.

The Board has a long term strategic plan and yearly

objectives.

Serving as a United Way Resource House host agency in

Bonita Springs, we partner with over twenty-five agencies.

Some partners include Goodwill, Hope Hospice, Good

Wheels, ACT, Bonita Assistance, Healthy Start, Café of Life,

Catholic Charities, Family Health Centers, Red Cross, School

District’s Early Head Start, FGCU, local health care providers,

area churches and city facilities, libraries and area banks.

We partner with many businesses throughout the area in the

following ways: we offer classes/tutoring for their

employees; we partner for special events and provide partner

companies with visibility on our website.

Accomplishments/Special Events

2012-2013

Summer (July-September 2012)

Literacy Council Gulf Coast Fort Myers office opened at

the East United Way House on Palm Beach Boulevard,

bringing us closer to the large Hispanic population in the

East Fort Myers corridor. Our Data Manager serves as

the Council manager for programs there. This is another

example of our partnerships with other United Way

agencies.

27 tots graduate from Bonita Springs and Fort Myers

Carol DeJoy Moms & Tots Family Literacy Program.

A new partnership formed with FGCU Spanish

professors to offer their student opportunities for credits

in collaboration with the Council. Advanced FGCU

students gave oral Spanish presentations to our evening

students. Intermediate students also worked with the

Council. The work with Literacy Council Gulf Coast was

written into the class syllabus.

Fall (October-December 2012)

Literacy Council Gulf Coast Women’s Committee

formed and inaugural meetings held.

Legacy Appreciation Bistro event held at the Council.

Winter (January-March 2013)

Big Rig Books began children and adult book giveaway

partnership with the Council.

Annual winter in-service tutor training held at Council

offices.

Susan served on a regional panel hosted by the United

Way and Southwest Florida Community Foundation, to

discuss the merger process, highlighting the process and

results.

Norris Fine Furniture, in conjunction with Barnes and

Noble Booksellers, held its first “The Writer’s Domain”

event in the Fort Myers showroom to benefit the

Literacy Council. Proceeds for the Council included

$2,323.

United Way invited Literacy Council Gulf Coast to

present its Kids+ Lifelong Learning program to the

Hendry County School Board to explore the literacy

needs in Hendry County.

10th Annual Literacy Legacy Breakfast fundraiser held at

the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort on March 1,

2013. Over $118,000 in donations received.

Kathy Anderson, Moms & Tots Coordinator was

honored by the Literacy Council Gulf Coast at the

annual Good Wheels, Inc. Recognition Luncheon.

Spring (April-June 2013)

Annual Tutor/Volunteer recognition luncheon held at

the Council to honor volunteers’ service to the

organization and its students.

Women’s Committee hosted a shopping event at

Chico’s Family Store. Proceeds included $533.

Edison College Partnership began with Literacy Council

Gulf Coast to explore ways to expand Kids+ Lifelong

Learning program to reach remedial college students in

danger of dropping out due to limitations in English

language comprehension and college level writing

ability.

Literacy Council Gulf Coast awarded $6,399 in a

Gannett Foundation Community Action Grant for the

Kids+ Lifelong Learning program at area Title I schools.

Literacy Council Gulf Coast met with Senator Marco

Rubio’s staff regarding immigration reform to begin a

proactive working relationship.

United Way increased our annual allocation from

$158,000 to $165,000.

Annual Accomplishments:

Enrollment in three of our Moms & Tots programs,

Leitner Creek, Manna, and Interfaith, has doubled.

Literacy Council Gulf Coast has secured enough tutors

for our Goodwill and Tice Moms & Tots programs,

which has improved the instruction and has allowed

consistency of instructors for our students.

ESL classes offered at FGCU for employees of the

university.

GED preparation classes offered with childcare

provided.

In Partnership with the Lee County School District, our

Kids+ Lifelong Learning program taught English to 849

students at 15 area Title I schools. Among the many

benefits of the program, the schools report increased

volunteerism by the parents. This program has grown

tremendously from one school in the 2011-2012 school

year.

15 schools (listed below) offered 42 classes per

week. 602 adults and 247 children studied during

the 2012-2013 school year.

o Bonita Middle School

o East Lee County High School

o Edgewood Academy

o Harns Marsh Elementary

o Headstart Parent University

o J. Colin English Elementary

o Lehigh Acres Elementary

o North Fort Myers Arts

Academy

o Orange River Elementary

o Orangewood Elementary

o River Hall Elementary

o Sunshine Elementary

o Tice Elementary

o Treeline Elementary

o Villas Elementary

Active Tutors and Students

Students Tutors

FY 2000 141 133

FY 2001 277 146

FY 2002 511 304

FY 2003 776 337

FY 2004 962 393

FY 2005 1,252 419

FY 2006 1,379 490

FY 2007 1,549 594

FY 2008 1,752 563

FY 2009 1,797 549

FY 2010 1,957 543

FY 2011 2,554 599

FY 2012 3,246 830

FY 2013 3,301 816

Group Programs

Active Group

Classes

Teachers Students

11 Moms & Tots Family

Literacy Classes:

Manna Christian (1 BS)

Old 41 (2 BS)

San Carlos Park (2)

Fort Myers (5)

Lehigh (1)

36 volunteers

5 PT paid

1,410 mothers

and children

115 Group Classes

281 volunteers 1,891 adults

Moms and Tots 1,410

Adult students: 1,891

Total students: 3,301

Other individual and small group classes are held throughout Lee

County and North Naples.

Worksite Programs

7 Active Programs Tutors Students

Collier’s Reserve

Imperial Golf Course

Bentley Village

Shadow Wood

West Bay Club

Pelican Sound

Cypress Cove

17

4

11

39

7

20

6

14

4

11

27

17

23

10

Seven active worksite programs had 104 tutors and 106

students. Pelicans Nest will begin a new program this fall and four

sites have undergone changes in management and volunteer

coordinators resulting in individual tutors relocating to offer

students instruction at the Literacy Council offices.

Student Accomplishments

According to the 2012-13 Student Survey: a majority are

meeting goals to:

Be able to communicate with others in English.

To learn to speak English to get a good/better job.

To help children with their homework.

To get a GED.

To go to college.

To become a U.S. citizen (in 2012, 16 students

became citizens).

From our students:

“We learn so much vocabulary, phonics, and

grammar.”

“I don’t feel as scared as I used to now that I

practice my English in class.”

According to our annual study, 100% of Moms and Tots

graduates began school average or above average as

compared to their classmates.

Over 98% of students are satisfied or very satisfied with the

school.

Student Assessments

The first two rounds of the Assessment Refinement Initiative

were completed for all students in the Moms and Tots

program and those in one worksite literacy program.

Students were assessed in 2012 and one year later in 2013 to

determine progress. Students showed decisive improvements

in their levels of English language expertise.

Moms, in particular, have lower levels of ability due to

limited education. Many have never been to school and

are illiterate in their own languages. As a result, when

entering our program, they begin at the low beginner

stage. After one year, they showed dramatic results

given their educational challenges and family

responsibilities.

Moms & Tots Family Literacy Program

2012-2013

The West Bay worksite program has been operating for

one full year and these employee/students began at a

higher level than the moms. Their results were equally

dramatic.

West Bay Worksite Program

2012-2013

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our volunteer tutors

and staff, this assessment piece shows that our students are indeed

improving their abilities as a result of study at the Literacy Council.

Their life challenges create many obstacles to learning, but for

those who are regular attendees, the results are dramatic and their

lives are truly improved. We are thrilled with the growth our

students have exhibited.

Value of a volunteer’s work

Independent Sector, in 2012, calculates the value of volunteer

work at $22.14 per hour (Based on average hourly,

nonsupervisory wages + 12% fringe benefits). Volunteers gave

approximately 84,300 hours to students and the Council in FY

2012-13.

84,300 hours x $22.14 = $1,866,402

Literacy Benefits Everyone

In our economy:

Adults improve job performance

Adults improve job status

Adults make informed purchases

Our community benefits from a more educated

workforce

In our schools:

Adults participate in their children’s education

Children start school ready to learn

The school district saves time and money when

children arrive with necessary skills

In society:

Adults learn to assimilate to the American

culture. Our community benefits when families

become part of our cultural fabric.

®

Bonita Springs Cape Coral Fort Myers Lehigh Acres

Improving Lives through Literacy